This is a decision that may not please many of the inhabitants of hong Kong. After the entry into force, as it was a week, of the national security act, China has just opened, on the territory, an office of defence and national security. For the first time, the chinese agents of the intelligence will therefore be able to openly operate in hong Kong. The opening of this office was celebrated with great pomp and reflects the desire to control the growing mainland China wishes to exercise on the city-State.
The location of this office, which is installed in a hotel, is also significant : it overlooks Victoria park, a gathering place for years of pro-democracy protesters. Every year in the month of June, they gather there on the occasion of the vigil in remembrance of the victims of the bloody repression of Tian'anmen square.
A " historic moment ", according to Carrie Lam
The headquarters will be home to intelligence agents chinese investigate and prosecute persons accused of having violated national security to hong Kong. A chinese flag was deployed outside the building and a plaque bearing the emblem of China has been installed. A plaque bearing the name of this security agency was unveiled early Wednesday in the presence of representatives of the government of hong Kong and the police.
Read also In the streets of hong Kong : "China is a monster, wake up ! "
"It is a historic moment," said Carrie Lam, the chief executive of the city designated by the Beijing. The intelligence of chinese will be an "important partner" to help preserve the national security, she said in the speech delivered on this occasion. The law adopted last week by the communist regime of Beijing aims to crack down on subversion, secession, terrorism and the collusion with the foreign forces, in response to the protest movement launched last year against the central power in the former british colony.
The fears of activists, pro-democracy
It is the most radical for hong Kong since its handover by the Uk to China in 1997. The activists pro-democracy fear that it could open the way to an erosion in unprecedented freedoms and the autonomy they enjoyed up to the present the inhabitants of the territory. Similar laws on national security are in force in mainland China.
Read also "The future of hong Kong seems to me to be very dark"
They allow the authorities to crush dissent. The police in hong kong has already arrested on the 1st of June, the day of entry into force of the text, of the demonstrators who expressed political views, now illegal, such as the independence or the autonomy of the territory. The content of this law has remained secret until its adoption on 30 June by unanimously by the standing committee of the national people's Assembly (ANP). The local parliament has not had its word to say.
An office of the defence in the role still vague
the text provides that The security agents will be able to operate on the ground in hong kong, which will be a first. China will also have jurisdiction over some cases falling within the ambit of the act. Until now, the police and the judicial system of hong Kong had any jurisdiction over the financial centre and semi-autonomous. For Beijing, this law aims to restore stability to the territory after months of demonstrations 2019 and to suppress the current activist for the independence.
also Read "Beijing risk the collapse of hong Kong as a financial platform"
If the precise role of this office is unclear, the appointment last week by Beijing, Zheng Yanxiong is a sign. It is particularly well known for his participation in the suppression of the uprising in 2011, residents of a village in the province of Guangdong, neighbouring hong Kong. During the ceremony Wednesday, Zheng Yanxiong said that the bureau " will strengthen its relations liaisons and co-ordination with the organizations of the continent already in the city, including the garrison of the chinese army's presence in hong Kong.
A police in hong kong to the powers already extended
His two deputies have been appointed. The first is Li Jiangzhou, an officer of public safety who has worked in the liaison Office, the organ of the central government of china to hong Kong. The second deputy is Sun Qingye. Last week, the daily hong kong South China Morning Post described it as a high-ranking official of the agency of the information chinese. The new security law in Beijing states that the agents working for his office are not subject to the laws of the city in the exercise of their functions.
also Read Phoebe – Why the Chinese love their government
The launch comes as on Tuesday, hong Kong announced that the powers of the police in hong kong in the area of safety have been greatly expanded monitoring requirements. It may, in particular, conduct search without warrant, control, and delete any information on the Internet, if there are "reasonable grounds" for believing that it violates the national security act.
